The Well of Love

Will you be mine? That’s not only a question we might ask another this time of year for Valentine’s Day, but I believe is also the fundamental question Jesus asks each of us. Everything Jesus did was relational.

Do you love a good “love story?” In the Gospels, in the book of John, we are told of Jesus’s travels from Judea into Galilee. John 4:4 tells us that Jesus had to pass through Samaria. I think He had to go through Samaria in order to show one woman just how much He loved her.

Tired from his long journey, Jesus took rest alone at the well where he encountered the Samarian woman. Jesus asked her for a drink, which took her by surprise because it was not customary at that time for Jews to associate with Samaritans.

rather than focusing on the relatively unimportant details of her questions.

Those who drink from the well will continue to thirst, but those who drink of His living water will not only never thirst again but that which Jesus offers will become within all who drink a well of water springing up to eternal life.

just as He did with the woman at the well. He guides us in truth to come to a more complete revelation of Him. When he told the woman to bring her husband to the well, he knew that not only did she tell the truth that she didn’t have a husband, but he also knew that she had had five prior husbands and was currently in a relationship with a man who wasn’t her husband.

If their conversation hadn’t yet sparked her interest, this surely did because he told her things about her self she had not revealed: she then believed he was a prophet. In their conversation, she told Jesus she was watching for the Messiah to come, Jesus explained to her that He was the Messiah.

Putting myself in this woman’s place, her encounter with Jesus must’ve been life altering. First, a Jewish man willingly acknowledged and conversed with her against all societal norms. Then he spoke to her about her areas of sin – not in a condemning or shaming way, but out of love and honesty. He exuded patience with her when she didn’t initially understand that He was trying to tell her who He was and what He had to offer her. He was the only man who didn’t condemn her because of her sin, and remained with her until she understood the magnitude of this encounter.

This was the greatest show of love this five-time divorced woman had ever received. And yet, as she went into the city and told others of her encounter with Jesus and all He knew about her, she questioned: “This is not the Christ is it?”

How often do we do the same thing? How often are we left alone, discarded, and misunderstood by friends, family, co-workers or society, accepted only by Jesus in our darkest shame. And yet as time goes by, we forget the magnitude of his acceptance and forgiveness?

How often do we look for confirmation from others that what we’ve encountered is real and reliable, rather than trusting in the Creator of our encounter?

In this season when the world focuses on love, may we focus on the One who loves perfectly, and then give of that well to others.

Replay of Free Webinar – 10 Tips to Beat the Blues

Do you or a loved one suffer from the blues?

I recently hosted a Free Educational Webinar with 10 practical tips to offer help and hope to beat the blues. I had so much feedback of lives that were touched, I decided to offer a Replay of the Webinar so that others could also be encouraged.

Here’s what some attendees have had to say:

“Your personal examples made you believable and relatable. It was practical and excellent advice and I know people were helped and encouraged.” – Cindy

“All of your hard work showed in the presentation. Your voice is so compelling with a touch of authority, yet your sweet personality came through when you called out the names of those who had questions or comments. Each tip is filled with wisdom and motivation.” – Carolyn

“What a mighty work God has done and your story is a testimony for anyone being stirred to spread her wings but feels the downward pull of an enemy at risk, an enemy defeated!” – Margie

I love this testimony of the Samarian woman. Here Christ shared with her the way to eternal life through the living water only He can grant. She was astonished when Christ told her about her many husbands. Thanks Michelle for a wonderful valentine gift of Christ;s love.

The story of the Samaritan Woman is one of my favorites. As women, we are so quick to condemn ourselves and others, yet He was always gentle, non-judgemental, and loving in all of His interactions with women. Thank you, Michelle!

The story about the Samaritan Woman is one of my favorites, I love how He chose ..willingly… to seek her out and offer her freedom. She was the first person He revealed Himself to, as the Messiah, and she believed Him instantly. She has an awesome conversion/ministry ratio… she met Christ and brought a town to meet the Salvation of their souls with grace.

He is the well of love that we can dip ourselves into and be coated, clothed, and covered by mercy and grace.

Dawn, it’s one of my favorites too. So often we tried to hide our sin, hide our shame from Him, but He already knows and He seeks us out anyway. That’s a Savior I want to know. Glad you came over today! Hope you’ll come back again soon!

This woman’s story and her encounter with Jesus always touches my heart. I love when you said that this was the greatest show of love she had ever received.

So many times when I’ve heard this story preached, there has been an assumption that this woman was loose and immoral because she had been divorced five times and was currently living with a man not her husband. But I recall that laws and economics for women in those days were vastly different from those today, at least here where we live. As women living in the US today, we probably cannot imagine the circumstances of this woman’s life and the obstacles she faced. Was she desperately seeking love? Did she need to keep a roof over her head? Maybe both? Her heart was no different than ours are today. Jesus simply stated her circumstances without judgement or condemnation, with love and compassion, and freely offered her the Water of Life.

It’s the same love story he offers each one of us. So whether we have a human “Valentine” this Valentine’s Day or not, we have the lover of our souls, patiently offering His love, waiting for us to turn and answer His “Wilt thou be mine?” with our free and joyous “Yes!” How can we help but love Him back?

Mary Lee,
A free and joyous “Yes!” is the answer He hopes we will all give to Him. He gave up everything for us. No other human can or will ever do for us what Jesus already did. Human relationships will let us down EVERY TIME. But He is faithful to supply EVERY need, to be with us ALL the time, to NEVER leave us, to give us NEW mercies every morning, to catch EVERY tear in His bottle, to be the lover of our soul with an everlasting love. You’re so right: How can we help but love Him back? Because of Him, #HopePrevails